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• Albania is located in southeastern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. It shares borders with Montenegro, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Greece, and has a coastline along the Adriatic and Ionian Seas.  The country is known for its mountainous landscape, with about 70% of its area covered by hills and mountains. The Albanian Alps are beautiful.  Mount Korabit is the highest peak at 9,066 feet.  The south has beautiful beaches with Mediterranean views.  The country has four UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
• Albania is a little smaller than the state of Maryland. 
• Albania experiences a Mediterranean climate along its coast and a more continental climate inland. This means hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters near the sea, while the mountainous interior sees colder, snowier winters and warm summers. Temperatures throughout the country (year-round) range from 25 degrees to 95 degrees.  Albania has more than 300 sunny days a year.
• The country’s population is 2.77 million.  More people are leaving the country than arriving.  The birth rate is 1.35 child per each woman. 
• Tirana is the capital city with a population of 536,000.  The next largest city is Durres (often considered a suburb of Tirana) with a population of 122,000. 
• 91% of the country is Albanian. The majority of immigrants are from Greece, Macedonia, Turkey and Italy. 
• Albania’s history has ancient origins with Illyrian tribes, Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires.  Albania declared independence from the Ottoman Empire on November 28, 1912.  The early 20th century was marked by political instability, foreign occupations during both World Wars, and shifting borders in 1930 (which has resulted in large populations of Albanians living in Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo).  Wine produced in areas of Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo is considered Albanian. 
• After WWII, Enver Hoxha established a Stalinist regime, isolating Albania from both the West and the Soviet bloc.  The country became one of the most repressive and isolated communist states in Europe.  Between the 1960s – 1980s, Enver Hoxha built over 175,000 bunkers across the country as a defense strategy driven by his extreme paranoia of foreign invasion.  The bunkers ranged from single-person pods to large underground shelters for military command.  Their construction drained national resources, diverting funds from housing, infrastructure, and public services.  The bunkers were never used in combat. After the fall of communism in 1992, most bunkers were abandoned, though a few were repurposed during the 1997 civil unrest and the Kosovo War in 1999.  Today, many bunkers have been converted into cafés, museums, hostels, and art spaces, with sites like Bunk’Art in Tirana offering immersive Cold War history experiences.

• In 1991, Albania transitioned to democracy, facing economic hardship and political unrest.  Since the 2000s, Albania has pursued European integration, joining NATO in 2009 and becoming an EU candidate.  Some locals shared with us that they feel like they are 100 years behind other countries due to the communist years. After decades of communism, it was fun for us to see the creativity for the architecture in Tirana that has developed since 1992.  The buildings are unique and interesting. 

• The red background on the Albanian flag represents bravery, strength, and bloodshed in the fight for freedom.  The black double-headed eagle signifies vigilance, sovereignty, and unity, with each head symbolizing watchfulness over both east and west.
• Albania is a unitary parliamentary constitutional republic with a clear separation of powers among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches.  The current constitution in Albania was adopted in 1998, establishing it as a democratic state with a multi-party system and guaranteeing fundamental rights and freedoms.  The President of the Republic: Head of State, elected by the Parliament for a five-year term. The president has largely ceremonial duties but also plays a role in appointing judges and commanding the armed forces.  The Prime Minister: Head of Government, responsible for leading the Council of Ministers (Cabinet) and implementing laws and policies. The prime minister is appointed by the president and must be approved by Parliament.  The Council of Ministers: Composed of ministers who oversee various government departments. They are nominated by the prime minister and formally appointed by the president.  The Legislative Branch is Parliament: A unicameral body with 140 members elected for four-year terms through proportional representation. It enacts laws, approves the budget, and exercises oversight over the executive branch.  The Judicial Branch is the Independent Judiciary: Includes the Constitutional Court, Supreme Court, and other lower courts. Judges are appointed through a combination of presidential nomination and parliamentary approval, with oversight from judicial councils to ensure independence. 
• The legal voting age is 18.
• Albania has a small, professional, volunteer-based military focused on NATO interoperability, peacekeeping, and disaster response. It consists of land, air, and naval forces, with increasing emphasis on cybersecurity and special operations.
• Public trust in the Albanian State Police has improved in recent years but concerns about corruption and accountability persist.  A 21-year-old Romanian traveler who we met in Jordan told us her mother wouldn’t let her visit Albania due to gangs and drugs.  We asked locals about it and they said it isn’t any worse there than in other countries, and that tourists are rarely bothered as these issues are typically amongst the locals.  We felt safe everywhere we went.
• Albania’s official language is Albanian, spoken by over 98% of the population and deeply tied to national identity. It has two main dialects—Tosk in the south and Gheg in the north.  Italian and English are widely spoken, especially among younger generations and in urban areas.  Greek is common in southern regions and among the Greek minority.  We found that younger people and people in the tourist industry spoke English.  The workers in the grocery store where we shopped did not speak English. 
• Albania is known for its religious harmony, with interfaith marriages and shared celebrations common.  The country’s secular constitution guarantees freedom of religion, belief, and conscience.  Centuries of Byzantine Christianity, Ottoman Islam, and Communist-era atheism have shaped a unique religious landscape.  During the Ottoman Empire, there were tariffs to non-Muslims, so many converted from Christianity to Islam for financial reasons.  The largest religious group is Sunni Islam with about 46% of the population.  About 5% practice Bektashism (a Sufi Islamic sect).  Approximately 16% of the population identifies as Christians. 
• Albania’s economy is driven by agriculture (olives, citrus fruits, vegetables, and livestock) and employs a large portion of the rural population; tourism; energy; mining (chromium, copper, and iron-nickel production); and manufacturing (garments, footwear, and construction materials).  Common occupations include salespeople, waiters, administrators, and construction workers.
• Tourism was nonexistent during the communist era (1946 – 1991).  By 2023, Albania welcomed over 10 million tourists who visited places like the riviera beaches in Dhërmi & Ksamil, UNESCO sites in Berat, Gjirokastër and Butrint, the Albanian Alps, as well as adventure tourism, and cultural festivals.  The top nationalities visiting Albania in 2025 include Kosovars, Italians, Germans, French, and Montenegrins, with growing interest from Chinese and Swedish travelers.
• Albanians are generous and welcoming. 
• Albanians often vacation within their own country – especially along the Albanian Riviera.  They also travel abroad to destinations like Turkey, Italy, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, North Macedonia and Montenegro.
• Cash is still widely used, especially in rural areas.   
• One Albanian LEK = .012 in US dollars.  Most places also accept Euros. 
• Minimum wage is $435 US per month.  Average gross monthly wage is $840 US.
• A one-bedroom apartment in the capital city of Tirana costs around $576 US. 
• When converted from liters, gas costs $7.80 per gallon.
• The infrastructure is ok.  They have city taxis and buses.  There are long-distance buses available.  There are ferries to Italy and Greece.  The main airport is in Tirana.  They are developing an airport in Vlorë.  We used the city bus.  It cost .45 US per ride.  You pay the cashier (not the driver) in cash on the bus.  The system is integrated with GoogleMaps, which is what Mike used more than the TIR bus app.  It was an easy system to navigate.  There are not bus lanes and the traffic is terrible so the timetable is basically useless.
• Beautiful trees line most of the streets and there are many green spaces throughout Tirana.  There are bike lanes in areas around the city.  When we arrived young people on electric scooters would zip past us super-fast in the bike lanes in the street and in the park.  Mike almost got hit one day.  I swear on a straight away some of them would go 30 mph.  It was very annoying and I always worried about getting hit.  And they didn’t wear helmets.  About two weeks before we left, the city banned electric scooters.  We only saw a few after that ban.  

• Albania’s school system is structured into four main levels: preschool, primary, secondary, and higher education. Education is compulsory for children aged 6 to 16, covering nine years of basic education.
• Under communism (1946–1991), Albania had a state-controlled healthcare system focused on universal access and preventive care.  Post-1991 reforms led to decentralization and the emergence of private providers, shifting toward a market-oriented model.  Public healthcare is underfunded and inconsistent. Private clinics are better but can be costly. Albania’s healthcare system is evolving, with a strong foundation in public care and increasing private options.
• Life expectancy averages 80 years. 
• Other than a few day trips and Mike’s 3-day hike to the Albanian Alps, we spent most of our time in Tirana, the capital.  We were in the Blloku neighborhood, which was lively and lovely with great cafes, restaurants, and shops.  Living in one place for 30 days, we got to know some of our neighbors, vendors, store/restaurant workers and people in the park.  It was fun to greet each other daily.  I loved walking past the man who didn’t speak English who sat outside our apartment almost every day. 

• GRAND PARK OF TIRANA!  GRAND PARK OF TIRANA!  GRAND PARK OF TIRANA!  Our apartment was a 10-minute walk from the park (which was intentional).  We absolutely loved the park.  It had a manmade lake with a trail around the lake that was approximately 3 miles.  Whenever possible we went to the park to do our cardio workouts.  There were miles of other trails throughout the park for walking, jogging and biking.  I wanted to rent a bike, but it wasn’t very convenient.  Workout equipment areas are used by locals daily. There are several cafes and beer gardens scattered around the lake and through the park that we enjoyed, along with fresh popcorn stands.  We saw “Mickey Mouse” at the park almost every day, hoping to earn a few coins taking pictures with children.  I loved seeing the men gathering in groups of 3 – 5 in the park and throughout the city, chatting, playing instruments, cards or dominos.

• The following holidays are celebrated:  January 1–2: New Year’s Day; March 14: Summer Day — marks the arrival of spring, celebrated with picnics and sweets; May 1: International Workers’ Day; November 28: Independence Day — commemorates Albania’s declaration of independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1912; November 29: Liberation Day — marks Albania’s liberation from Nazi Germany in 1944; December 8: National Youth Day — honors student protests that helped end communism in 1990; Christian Holidays include:  Catholic Easter — date varies; Orthodox Easter— usually follows Catholic Easter by 1–5 weeks; December 25: Christmas — primarily celebrated by Catholic communities; Muslim Holidays include:  March 22: Nevruz Day — celebrated by the Bektashi community; Eid al-Fitr — marks the end of Ramadan, date varies; Eid al-Adha — commemorates Abraham’s sacrifice, date varies; Other Celebrations:  September 5: St. Teresa’s Day — honors Mother Teresa, born in Skopje to Albanian parents; November 22: Alphabet Day — celebrates the 1908 Congress of Manastir, which standardized the Albanian alphabet.
• Traditional Albanian cuisine is rooted in Mediterranean flavors, featuring fresh vegetables, meats, dairy, and olive oil.  Tavë Kosi: Albania’s national dish — baked lamb with yogurt and eggs, creamy and comforting; Byrek: flaky pastry filled with spinach, cheese, or meat. Found in every bakery and home; Fërgesë Tirane: A rich stew of peppers, tomatoes, and cottage cheese, often served with bread.
• Raki is Albania’s beloved traditional spirit — a strong, clear fruit brandy that symbolizes hospitality, heritage, and celebration.  We tried it and it is strong! 
• Legal drinking age is 18.
• The country uses 100% renewable energy – hydro, solar, and wind (although that isn’t doing much now).
• People are “from” the city where their parents were born.   
• Football (soccer) is the most popular sport and it is played at all levels—from amateur leagues in every town to professional competitions.
• They allow smoking in a lot of places where it is not allowed in the US.  We felt like we each smoked a pack of cigarettes ourselves the night we went to the indoor National soccer game. 
• Franchises that we saw and have in the US include Burger King, KFC, Marriot, Firehouse Subs, Popeyes and Pizza Hut.  Albania has no McDonald’s, making it one of the few European countries without the fast-food giant.
• A movie ticket cost $11, and a large popcorn was $6.  The theater we went to had some love seats. 
• Lots of coffee and pastry shops.  Many serve meals too, on teeny tiny tables that are basically big enough to hold the mini espresso cups. 
• We saw Fiat, Hyundai, VW, Ford, Toyota, Byd (China), Audi, Mercedes Benz and Smart cars.  We were told that a household with five people who can drive probably has three cars.  Parking is challenging in the city. The Smart cars looked beat up…maybe from getting into tiny parking spaces. 
• Some of the traffic light poles are also lit.  And the Albanian flag emblem is in many traffic lights.

• Drivers licenses are issued after 18 years of age. 
• Overall the city is 95% quiet.  The 5% noise comes mainly from food delivery motor bikes. 
• Many people set up a tiny grill and roast corn and nuts to sell.  The lamps that had shades on them gave a homey feel to the park they were located in.  Overall the city was clean.  We could smell the exhaust from buses and traffic.  The garbage bins were often overflowing and smelly.   

• Stands throughout Tirana have fresh, quality, fruits and vegetables. 
• Sweet elderly couples were seen often walking arm in arm.  I wish I had taken a picture of some of them. 
• We visited the largest mall on a Sunday, and it was super busy.  It was open until 9 pm.
• There were barber shops on every street in our neighborhood….and fancy ones! 
• There were perfume shops on every street in our neighborhood.
• You need to get the server’s attention for service in many restaurants.  Beggars often come to the outside café tables asking for money.  We routinely found that menus do not include all the items available to order in restaurants.  Our brunch restaurant had photos of pancakes on Google, but they weren’t on the menu.  We were able to order them.  A steakhouse we went to did not indicate they had wine on the menu and the only side dish listed on the menu was French fries (they had wine and other side dishes).  Restaurants cut your steak before serving it.

• We wanted to do something cultural.  We couldn’t find a schedule or buy tickets online for the Opera or the Albania Dance Festival.  We went to the Opera box office.  They post events on Instagram, but you have to scroll backwards to find when they originally announced information regarding an event.  They use a manual system for purchasing tickets by cash.  The receptionist had multiple pages of the theater seating chart labeled for each event.  She showed us which seats were available on the chart.  After we paid cash she marked the seats as taken on her seating chart and filled out the manual generic tickets with the date and gave us the tickets.

• Beautiful tiles were used outside shops and in certain developments, including the main square.  These tiles were very slippery when walking on them when they were wet. 
• George W Bush visited Bushkria and the town felt so honored they built a statue of him and named two businesses after him.  The park in Tirana has a George W. Bush library.

• Mother Theresa was Albanian. 
• It is best to ask before taking photos of people, military and religious sites. 
• Many Albanians nod for “no” and shake their head for “yes”.   
• Balkan cultures are known for emotional expressiveness, which can be misinterpreted as anger by outsiders.  Loud conversations, animated gestures, and strong opinions are common, especially in social or family settings.
• Blood feuds in Albania are a centuries-old tradition rooted in the Kanun, a customary code of law that mandates revenge killings to restore family honor. Though much less common today, they still persist in some northern regions.  The Kanun, a 15th-century code of conduct, governed many aspects of Albanian life, especially in the mountainous north.  It emphasized honor, hospitality, and retribution (blood-taking) as a central tenet.  If a man was killed, his male relatives were obligated to avenge his death by killing the perpetrator or a male member of his family (“a head for a head”).  Families involved in blood feuds often retreated into self-imposed house arrest, especially the male members, to avoid retaliation.  Some built fortified towers as safe havens, particularly in regions like Theth and Shkodër.  These feuds could last generations, with cycles of revenge continuing until a truce or reconciliation was brokered.  While blood feuds have declined significantly, they still exist in rural northern Albania, particularly in Shkodër and Diber.  Modern Albanian law criminalizes such acts, and the state generally offers protection, but enforcement can be inconsistent in remote areas. 
• We learned about the tradition of sworn virgins.  A sworn virgin is a woman who takes a lifelong vow of celibacy and lives as a man, adopting male clothing, names, and social roles.  This tradition allowed women to gain male privileges in patriarchal societies, such as owning property, leading families, and avoiding arranged marriages.  The practice is rooted in the Kanun of Lekë Dukagjini, a centuries-old Albanian code of honor and customary law. The tradition persists in northern Albania, especially in isolated mountain villages like Lëpushë.  Women became sworn virgins for reasons such as avoiding marriage or escaping abusive situations, replacing a male head of household after a death, preserving family honor during blood feuds when male relatives were confined indoors.  Sworn virgins live as men in every aspect: they work male jobs, use male pronouns, and participate in male-only spaces.  They are respected in their communities but also live with the burden of celibacy and isolation.  Some were designated as a sworn virgin by their families in childhood, while others chose the role themselves. The number of sworn virgins has dropped sharply due to modernization, urbanization, and changing gender norms.  Younger generations are not adopting the role, and many see it as a relic of a patriarchal past.
• The houses within Kruje Castle’s walls had glass globes in the roof tiles which brought daylight into the homes prior to electricity. 

• Common phrases:  The religion of Albania is Albanianism.  The one who knows the most speaks the least. Words are like stones, once thrown, they don’t return. Don’t look at the coat, look at the heart.
• People make the double headed eagle sign with their hands by crossing their thumbs with their palms facing their chest.  The four fingers on each hand represent the wings of the eagle. 
• Favorite memories:  All of our interactions with Arjol and Sebi at Your Brownie Guy and eating their amazing chocolate chip cookies and brownies!!!  Dinner with Fjori and Erand.  Every moment we spent in Grand Park of Tirana.  The Lonely Planet walking tour of Tirana that we did.  Shopping for my jeans (the owner of the tiny store was a man and he didn’t speak English…the dressing room was a curtain with barely enough room for me to stand in it..he would bring me different jeans to try…after school his 10 year old daughter arrived…she spoke English and was very sweet and we had great conversations).  Mike’s trip to the Albanian Alps and meeting the people he got to spend that time with.  Feeling fall in the air and seeing some of the leaves change. 

Where we spent our time in Albania